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Another Dahlia Newbie!

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I have always admired dahlias! I bought a beautiful, large dahlia one year (I was probably about 12). It grew well, but I had know idea what I was doing when it came to dahlias. I tried to store it over the winter, but it didn't make it. Well, almost 20 years later, wow, I can't believe its been that long!...I am ready to make the plunge! I just watched The Big Allotment Challenge on YouTube. You know how the folks from the UK like growing their dahlias...I need some!

I worked at a greenhouse for almost 4 years and they always had the small, single, bedding dahlias for sale. I was always excited to see them blooming in the green house. Even the small one are amazing!

Well I got some seeds the other day and thought I would try these out. I didn't realize you could grow them from seeds. Has anyone grown from seed? Any tips?

I also plan on getting a few tubers, probably from Lowes. Any tips when it comes to buying tubers from a big box store?

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Comments (8)

terrigail_gw
9 years ago
1. I've had a dwarf dahlia fetish for a very long time:). I've been saving/growing them from seed for several years. I'm in z6b, and generally start mine the first week of April, plant out mid-May, and they will bloom end of June-first of July (so about 12-14 weeks from seed). A great thing about the smaller varieties is that if you get a plant that you love, you can dig up the tubers (just like the tall ones) and save to replant. If you have several different colors or bloom type of a variety (such as Mignon's dwarf, etc) they do cross pollinate an you will get a beautiful hodge podge from your collected seeds.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
terrigal:

How exciting! Exactly what I was hoping to hear! I was wondering about winter sowing them. Have you ever done that?
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Zone 4a and this will be my fifth year doing this. I start around new years, typically with hardy perennials in my zone, shurbs/trees and seeds that i don't really care about (e.g. old seeds). I typically wait until late February to start putting out a lot of my annuals, and I leave the following til the end of march or early april: zinnias sunflowers ornamental millet abutilon dolichos lablab morning glories 4 o'clocks cosmos and pretty much anyhting tropical in origin Most of these will sprout if sown earlier, but their foliage is sufficiently tender that I lose them in the cold nights we have earlier in the winter/spring. If I wait til then, they typically don't pop til mid april or later and i typically don't have to worry about the seedlings freezing then.
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Mick (glaswegian), I haven't found any dahlias with a nice fragrance, not like the brugmansia. However, I still love them for their stunning visual presentation. I have also found that they tend to do best planted directly into the garden. Mind you, I prefer the tall ones ( 3- 5 feet). These would never be okay in a pot unless the pot was very large, as stated by dahliagardener. If you wanted to plant dahlias in a container, I would suggest the smaller varieties. There are numerous ones available. Dahlia Bloom Size Abbreviations AA - over 10" dia. A - 8" to 10" dia. B - 6" to 8" dia. BB - 4" to 6" dia. M - miniature 2" to 4" dia. Also, check out Dan's Dahlias at: http://www.dansdahlias.com/products.php There is a dahlia society in Toronto. I include their website which contains a lot of information that will help you, Mick, as you explore this new world. Here is a link that might be useful: Canadian Chrysanthemum and Dahlia society
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Judy, I live in Aiken county, SC and I had a beautiful Dahlia garden last summer in Pennsylvania. I will be planting my tubers in the ground and severely ammending the soil to do it, so you will have an easier job using raised beds. I would have 2 foot raised beds.(my choice) They love loom. Rich, well composted soil (top soil and manure) just not too much manure, more top soil. Buy 3-4 foot planting sticks B4 you plant the tubers. (bamboo sticks work well) When you plant the tubers eye up, put a small amount of bone meal in with the tuber. Then cover with soil mixed with composted manure and lightly mulch. Place the stick right in back of the tuber at this point. That way when they grow up and start to get heavy, you can gently tie them with string or knee highs to keep them upright. I bought a soaker hose for my Dahlias because they develop rot real easy when watered from above. Most Dahlias can take hot temps, just not alot of rain, or they start to rot. In the middle of the summer, clean them out, you will see their bottom leaves and some leaves on the inside of them rot, just pinch them off and remove this, which will allow air to move around them more. Then they will bloom yet again. Good luck to you with your new dahlias, they are addicting. Please post a pic after your dalias start to bloom.
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terrigail_gw
9 years ago
I haven't wintersown them. I'm always afraid they are TOO much of the 'tender annual' that they are supposed to be. The first frost here will completely blacken them, so I always just wait.
cicivacation
9 years ago
In truth, they are more a 'tender perennial,' and don't need a cold cycle to kick off germination. If you want large blooms over four inches, though, it's best to grow named varieties from tubers that are supposed to be larger varieties.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
cicivacation:

Thanks for your comment! Yes, I will be getting a few named tubers, but I do like the small ones too...I saw the seeds and thought, hey! those might be fun to try. I don't expect they will need much staking...the package says they get 18 in tall...they may need some...we'll see.
cicivacation
9 years ago
Sounds like fun! If you have an inside lighting setup, you could even have some blooms before planting out from those patio dahlia seeds.
terrigail_gw
9 years ago
Tender perennial does sound more accurate:) I have to store mine through the winter; they never survive the cold in the ground. My dwarfs/patio/bedding dahlias never get over 2 ft.
keriann_lakegeneva
9 years ago
I start my dahlia seeds now and start tubers in trays next week. Both bloom around the 12 week mark for me give or take cici is correct, tubers produce (usually) the larger named varieties.... Seeds and small plants that thrive in containers! I love both!

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